Jimmy Buffett - The Key West Years

Jimmy Buffett - The Key West Years

Tuberose Plant Care

About Tuberose

Tuberose provide blooms that are among the most fragrant of all plants. The intoxicating fragrance will leave a memorable impression. They bloom along 2 to 3-foot tall stems in nickel-sized to quarter-size white flowers. While different varieties vary in bloom diameter and the number of petals they all are long lasting with a strong fragrance.  Tuberose blooms become particularly fragrant in the evening and night.

Native to Central America, these plants are now incorporated into ceromonies, weddings and festivals around the globe. Once reserved for the royal families, the royal gardens and those of high status by the ancient Mayans and Aztecs they now are popularly incorporated into wedding bouquets where it is believed to improve the mood of the Bride, preparing her for her wedding night.

During the Victorian Age in Europe, young ladies were warned not to go into the garden at night where there were tuberose. In some Muslim countries it is forbidden for women the breath the fragrance of the tuberose lest they yield to romantic temptations.

  

Double Pearl Tuberose

Outdoor Beds

Tuberose will not survive in a bed that becomes water logged on occasion. However, the soil should not be allowed to become completely dry. Therefore a balance of moisture retention and good drainage is required.

Place your bulbs where they will receive full sun or at least six-hours of direct sun. Find a location where the soil drains well or prepare a high spot in the bed.  

Amend the soil with the addition of organic material to raise the level 2"-3" to improve the drainage. Soil amendments of peat moss and ground bark provides a balance of moisture retention and drainage. Coconut fiber or coor, when you can find it, improves the drainage further and assures good air spaces in the mix. Both pine bark and coor resist many pathogens.

Composted healthy plant material feeds the soil as well as the plant. The addition of bone meal and composted manure provide a long term extra kick.

In humid climates, particularly those that leave heavy dew on plants overnight, the plants should have enough spacing from other plants to allow good air circulation. A delay in evaporation of water on the buds and blooms can lead to them browning – preventing buds from opening or spoiling the blooms. This is no different than roses.

Pots and Tubs

Fill your containers with good quality, well draining potting mix. Almost any commercially available potting medium will work but additions of finely crushed pine bark or coor will assure loose conditions. Make sure there are adequate drainage holes.

Place your containers where they will receive full sun. During blooming they can be located on the patio or locations where people sit or pass even if these locations have only partial sun. However, after a bloom cycle return the containers to full sun.

In our damp Houston climate it is best to have open space around the potted plants to allow good air flow. The drying of early morning sun and good air circulation can prevent browning of the buds and blooms.

Watering and Feeding 

After planting, water your tuberose generously, soaking the soil.  Water regularly during the growing season whenever there is not adequate rain. Tuberoses are heavy feeders during active growth and appreciate applications of water soluble balance fertilizer with numbers like 8-8-8 or 15-15-15. As with all heavy blooming plants, fertilizers that provide trace chemicals improve the plants performance and health.

Discontinue fertilization for the final two months of your growing season. Excess nitrogen containing components encourage root and bulb rot of many plants when the plants are not actively growing.

 Blooming

Tuberose flower from mid-June till October once well established. Once bud development begins an optional application of a super bloom mix with numbers roughly 20-50-20 will provide larger and more blooms. Blooming stems often will need support.

A wire stake with hoop providing support

Individual picked blooms can fill a room or a car with it’s fragrance that will linger even after the bloom has been removed. When placed in a closet are among clothing in a drawer overnight, the clothing will pick up the fragrance for the next day. An entire blooming stem can be cut for flower arrangements. 

 End of Season

After blooming has finished for the season leave the foliage in place; don't cut it off. The leaves will gather sunlight and provide nourishment for next year's show.  Water as needed.   Leaves may be removed late in the season, when they yellow.  

Winter

In zones 8 and cooler, to save your tuberose for next year, dig the bulbs carefully after the first frost. Let them air dry for several days. Then store in a cool location in paper bags or boxes filled with peat moss.

Even though the Houston area is Zone 9, it is recommended to lift the bulbs as described above as our wet cool winters can result in bulb rot.

Containers with tuberose do not have to have the bulbs lifted if the containers are moved indoors or the garage to avoid the cold and wet of winter. They do not need light and water during storage.

  

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